Man’s World! Now, what kind of a Magazine is that? Pardon my ignorance, but I thought all magazines were open to the male species irrespective of whether the publishers chose to woo them or not. Anyway most of them are with the exception of perhaps magazines such as ‘New Woman’, ‘Women’s Era’, ‘The Lady’, ‘Eve’, etc which blatantly suggest that they are meant for today’s women of substance. And, in which case, they are read even more by men without substance (or, maybe, even by men with substance who still believe, and practice the military strategy, that it is to their advantage to know what the enemy is up to).
Today’s youth are more concerned about their looks, complexion, and calluses. Otherwise, why would we have men’s parlours that cater to every whim and fancy of the new metrosexual man? They are more fretful about their rather crooked nose (ironically, not character) and double chin, dark layers of thick skin on their elbows and extra growth of hair on their eyebrows (ok, I made that one up). I see more and more young men indulging themselves with ‘Fair and Handsome Cream’ or applying facemasks and mudpacks. They are now more conscious about their manicured nails and dyed hair.
That’s why we need ‘Man’s World’ to cater to the fetish as well as pamper the ego of the male species.
The fact that the magazine is named ‘Man’s World’ will surely work in its favour. Self-conscious men would want to have a peek at it to know what they as ‘men’ were missing for so long. Maybe, they really want to get their crooked noses straightened or their straight hair strands curled. Whatever they want the magazine does provide enough sections to browse. The curious women too want to know what’s in there if for nothing else then at least to keep abreast (read that as tags and tabs) with their hubbies or boyfriends.
It’s a ritzy well-designed magazine for the metro man with COVER STORY and FEATURES that dwell on the latest happenings in our part of the world. Anything that qualifies for being called relevant (or sensational) might find a place here. There is also a section called FOB but I am not sure why they call it that. I presume it is ‘Full Of Bull’ and not surprisingly Raakhi Sawant features in this section as the Woman of the Month in the June 2006 issue.
THE GOOD LIFE section mostly deals with books, music, gadgets, and games. The gadget subsection is real cool. Some good gadgets have been featured in this subsection. I found some interesting dress schemes for owners of Apple Ipod. The dress schemes are not for the owners but for the Ipod they own. Of course, the other subsections like books and music dwell on the latest releases. The books that are featured here may be slightly male centric. The games subsection is a big let down for crazy men who love PC games. Not many new releases feature here.
WHEELS as you have rightly guessed deals with a man’s passion for speed, comfort, and status on wheels. From the luxury cars to the ones that literally ooze status and from the practical sedans to the fast and furious sports cars all are featured here. If there’s one topic on which men love to gossip it is about cars and bikes. You could also come across articles on the best deals on wheels. You might find some snazzy motor bikes too.
The MEN & WOMEN section has some funny insights into the way men and women think about themselves and others. STYLE gratifies the newly discovered urge of the metrosexual guy to burn a hole in his pocket to look more polished and presentable. FITNESS gives you more yoga and aerobics and sometimes tempts you to go for that long ignored Botox injection. Yes, even men might need it.
GALLERY provides you a selection of formal or revealing photographs of celebrities. Find out if there is a picture of a celebrity that you have a crush on.
DR KNOW. Do men really need agony columns? Well, why not! From the look of it there seem to be quite a few men who need this guy to cry for them even if it’s just in the agony columns. Now, this guy is really funny (hardly the sensitive type you are looking for) but one needs to take his advice with a generous pinch of salt. Trust Mr. Know-all’s advice at your own risk. The best thing would be is to read it, enjoy it, and forget it. I find some of the questions contrived and the answers too humorous and effected to take them seriously.
I have read somewhere that Man’s World magazine is also available on the mobile phones courtesy Tata Indicom network for Rs. 30/- a month, a first of its kind value added service in India. "The magazine is available in a pocket-size format marks the debut of a print magazine onto mobile interfaces."
You can also browse the net version of the magazine and can become a member for free, which allows you to skim through the pages or read articles, or access the other segments of your choice. Here is the link to the magazine: https://mansworldindia.com/homepage.asp
This is a magazine that tries to pander to the ‘woman’ in man. No I am not talking about misplaced genes or gender malfunctioning which most people would like to address using a more familiar if derogatory term. What I am trying to allude to is today’s men have discovered the woman in them and want to experience the thrill of being pampered. So, it’s hardly surprising if the ‘woman’ in woman wants to read it too. Or, the ‘man’ in woman?
MB Farookh